Furnace wall



A. E, SMITH FURNACE WALL June 14, 1932.

Filed Dec. 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l m. m V m figure Ev,

June 14, 1932. s n- 1,862,713

FURNACE WALL Filed Dec. 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TQR fSwlz BY A. E. SMITH June 14, 1932.

FUR NAC E WALL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1930 A. E. SMITH June 14, 1932.

FURNACE WALL 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 10, 1930 4 ATTO Patented June 14*, 1932 @FFEQE' ARTHUR E. SIVZI'II'I, F I EEVTGN, EIIASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BERNITZ FURNACE AFJPLIANCE CGEZPAJEIY, UF EGS'ZGN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CGBFORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS FURNACE WALL Application filed liecenlber 10, 1980.

This invention relates to furnace walls and is especially concerned with the linings or facings of such walls.

It is a very common practice to line furnace walls with blocks or bricks made of some highly refractory material which is particularly adapted to withstand the high temperatures and the action of the hot gases at the fire side of the wall. Facings of this character are used very commonly in furnaces of many kinds, such as boiler furnaces, locomotive furnaces and generators, and are employed in various parts of such furnaces, including the arches as well in the upright walls of the combustion chamber. They are particularly useful in those wall constructions in which tubes are embedded, the tubes carrying steam or water, and either forming part of the circulating system or being used to heat feed water.

It is contemplated that such linings will in time burn out and require either replacement or repair, and the present invention aims particularly to improve the construction of such walls and the blocks or bricks used in them with a View to reducing the expense of manufacture, installation and repair, while still producing a thoroughly satisfactory wall structure.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a furnace wall embodying features of this invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the line 3*3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view on a larger scale showing a section of the wall illustrated in F1. 1 5

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially on the lines and 5c 6-6, respectively, Fig. 2;

erial No. 501,304.

Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7-7, Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical sectional views of parts of the wall shown in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are horizontal, sectional and front views, respectively, of a section of a furnace wall embodying features of this invention and adapted for use in a locomotive boiler.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the wall structure there shown comprises a rear section, indicated in general at A, and a front section, lining, or facing designated at B. Located immediately in front of the rear section A. is a series of tubes 2 which serve both to conduct steam, water or other fluid medium, and also to support or position the blocks or bricks in the front section or facing of the wall.

The tubes are clamped together and held rigidly in spaced relationship to each other by some suitable construction, that shown in Patent No. 1,750,0d8, granted March 11, 1930, preferably being used. This clamp arrangement comprises a channel bar 3, Figs. 2 and 3, lying horizontally immediately behind the tubes, a series of U-bolts 4 which, respec tively, embrace the tubes and having their legs extended through the bar 3, and spacing blocks 5 interposed between the tubes and the channel bar. Nuts 6 threaded on the end portions of the U-bolts 4 serve to draw these bolts backwardly and thus to clamp the tubes securely against the blocks and the bar.

The rear Wall section A may be of any suitable construction. In some installations the rear wall section consists simply of a brick wall with or without insulating material located between it and the tubes. In other constructions it is made up of boards or blocks of insulating material which are backed up by a sheet steel casing 7, Figs. 2 and 3, the casing being secured in place by adapter bolts 8 which are threaded on to the projecting ends of the U-bolts at and extend through the casing, nuts 9 being threaded on them to back up the casing and hold it in position.

The front wall section or facing provided by this invention is supported independently of the rear wall section so that it may be installed, repaired or replaced without disturbing the rear section A.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the wall facing or lining cornprises blocks or bricks arranged in two opposed series between each adjacent pair of tubes. Considering, for exam le, the two left-handtubes '2, as'shown in *igs. 3 and l,

it will be"seen"that a vertical series of blocks C rest against the extreme left-hand tube, while another similar series of blocks D rest against the next adjacent tube. The blocks in each series are arranged endto' end, although theydo jnot 'est directly on each other. It will also be seen that each block has a rectangular face portion of substantial thickness whichf lies in front of the plane of the forward edges of the tubes. Each block also includes a rearwardly extending part which may be termed the body portion of the block, and which lies between the tubes. One side of the body portion of each block is grooved as shown at 18, Fig. 3,

to fit against its respective tube. The opposite side is substantially straight except at its upper and lower ends where oppositely inclined faces 10 and 11, Figs. 1 and 8,'are

" formed. These facesare'inclined laterally,

that is, toward the tube next adjacent to that against which the block bears. The corre-' sponding inclined faces of each pair of blocks C and D are arranged in opposed re lationship, as shown in the drawings,- and Wedgingdevices 12 are located in engagement with these inclined surfaces. These devices may consist simply of relatively short bricks or blocks positioned horizontally in'the "wall facing and eachof approximately square shape in transverse'section. Since the iii clined faces 10'1O at the'upper endof one block are .located inopposed relationship and are immediately adjacent to the corresponding and opposed inclined faces ;11'11 at the lower end of the pair of blocks C and D next above it, a single wedging' device 12 will engage all fourof these faces, the sides of the part 12 all being located in inclined positions. It will be, clear from aninspection of Figs. 4 and 8 that with this arrangement the block's C and .D are forced apart by the wedges 12 simply due to the action of gravity on the blocks tending to slide them lengthwise of thetubes, the blocks thus being crowded into, firm engagement with their respectlve tubes 2.

It is preferable, although notnecessary', to

have the blocks of each pair overlap each;

other at the fire side of the. wall, and 'forthis reason the blocks vD are grooved, as shown at 14, Fig. .3, to. provide a face which is offset with reference to the side of the block op-j posite to the groove 13, the groove let being adapted to receive a tongue or'ofiset portion" adjacent pair of tubes and its companion and opposed block is then slipped into position froni above.- The wedge 12 then is placed on the inclined surfaces l10 at the upper end of these two blocks and the next pair of blocks C and D are then inserted between the tubes in the manner just described, these operations being repeated until the desired section has D6811 filled in.

The greater part of the wall shown in Fig. 1 is made up in the manner above described except that in some parts of thewall l a roll 16, Figs. 3, 4 and 9, has been used instead of the part 12, this roll also acting as a wedging device to force the blocks apart. Near the upper and lower ends of the tubes- 2 where they join theheader 17, Fig. 2, or

the boiler section 18, special blocks are required having a different form from those shown. The special blocks at the lower ends of the tubes are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at 20, while those used near the upper ends of the tubes are shown at 21' and 22, Figs'l, 2, and

6'. It is preferable, also, to use horizontal expansion joints, one of which is shown at. 23, Fig. 1, at suitable intervals in the height of the wall. Such a joint may be made of. asbestos or other somewhat flexible material, as is well understood by those skilled in this art. These expansion oints'serve to divide the wall horizontally into sections of convenient size. 'One -of the clamping bars 3 preferably is located nearly opposite the 'expansion joint where the U'-bolts 4 associated" with it will support the blocks above the joint, and a horizontal" row of blocks 24:, Fig. 1, shaped like the blocks-22, Fig. 5, preferably is used at theupp'er end of each section, these blocks being designed to'be slipped horizontally between the tubes. Consequently,

when it becomes necessary to repair any section, the packing in the expansion joint can be removed'and the key bricks 24immediately over'the portion whi'ch'is to be repaired can be pulled out. These key bricks are of a height at least equal to' that of the blocks C and D so that when they have been-taken out,all of the blocks Cand D under them then can be removed from between the tubes down to, and including, the defective section. New blocks can thenbe substituted for those removed, and the defective section thus can be made as good as new. All of these operations can. be performed while working on the wall at the fire side thereof and without disturbing either the rear section of the wall or any great part of the facing other than the defective area.

The invention thus provides a wall structure which can be installed with relatively little labor, in which repairs can be made conveniently, and which provides a very effective protection for the tubes. The blocks themselves are of such shape that they can be manufactured economically and only a relatively small variety of shapes are required. If the feature of overlapping the blocks one upon the other at their fire faces is omitted, then the two bricks C and D of each pair may be made exactly alike.

It should be observed that the inclined faces on the body portions of the bricks and the surfaces of the wedging devices engaged said faces, all cross or intersect a plane through the center lines of the tubes. This arrange ment is of advantage in avoiding any tendency of the blocks to swing around the axes of the tubes and in holding the blocks in a more uecure interlociring relationship to the tubes. It may here be pointed out, however, that under some circumstances the blocks may not directly engage the tubes throughout th r entire length, since cement sometimes is used between the surfaces of the tubes and the bloclrs in order to produce a more intiiate and uniform coi'itact. Even in these cases, however, there is, for all practical puroses, an engagement of the blocks with the tubes.

In a water wall such as that above de scribed the tubes may conveniently be used to support or position the blocks which compose the greater part of the facing. A very similar construction, however, may be used in other walls which do not have tubes and in which, consequently, some other kind of a support for the facing blocks must be employed. One such arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 which show a section of a wall facing installed in the furnace of a locomotive boiler. In these views the wall of the water jacket is shown at 26. A series of supports 27 consisting of T-bars have been welded to the water jacket in parallel relationship where they perform the same func tions as the water tubes 2 shown in the other figures in supporting the blocks C and D of the wall facing or lining. These blocks are like those shown in Figs. 3 and 4 except that instead of being grooved to fit against tubes they are provided with grooves 28 to take one flange of a T-bar 27. Each block thus fits approximately half way around the front face of one of the supports 27 and protects it just as it protects a corresponding portion of one of the tubes 2.

It is contemplated that the locks may be made of various refractory materials, the nature of which will depend upon the character of the installation. In some cases the blocks may be made of fire clay or of cast iron. Very frequently, however, they will be made of silicon carbide or some other highly refractory non-metallic material. The wedging devices 12l2 and 16 also may be mad-e of the materials just mentioned, it being understood that these devices are not necessarily made of the same substance or substances as that of the blocks with which they are used. Their requirements, also, are modified somewhat by the fact that they are protected at the fire face of the wall by the portions of the blocks which overlap the front ends of the wedging devices.

ll hile I have herein shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a furnace wall, the combination with a series of upwardly extending parallel supports, of a wall facing comprising blocks arranged in two opposed series between each pair of adjacent supports, the blocks in each series being position-ed end to end and each bearing against its respective support, the blocks of one series, each having between its ends, faces inclined laterally with reference to said supports,located between the supports and positioned in opposed relationship to similarly inclined faces on the blocks of the other series, and devices engaging said inclined faces and operating through them to cause the tendency of the superposed blocks to slide lengthwise of the supports under the influence of gravity to crowd the opposed blocks away from each other and into contact with their respective supports.

2. In a furnace wall, the combination with a series of upwardly extending parallel supports, of a wall facing comprising blocks arranged in two opposed series between each pair of adjacent supports, tl e blocks in each series being p sitioned end to end and each bearing against its respective support, each of said blocks having a face portion of substantial thickness extending approximately half way around the front face of its respective support, each block also including a body portion extending rearwardly from said face portion and positioned between the supports, said body portion of each block being grooved longitudinally to fit against its respective support, the blocks of each series. each having between its ends, faces inclined laterally with reference to said supports, located between the supports and in opposed relationship to said inclined faces on the blocks of the opposite series, and wedging devices engaging the opposed inclined faces of said bricks and cooperating with said inclined faces to cause the tendency of the superposed blocksto slide lengthwise of tlie supports under the influence of gravity to crowd the opposed blocks away from each other and into contact with their respective sup- I ports.

3. A furnace wall facing according to preceding claim 2 in which the face portions of said blocks are of approximately rectangular form and lie in front of and in protective relationship to said wedging devices.

4. A furnace wall facing according to preceding claim 2 in which the face portions of said blocks are of approximately rectangular form and are each provided with two inclined faces spaced apart by a substantial distance and both located behind the front face portion of the block.

5. In a furnace wall, the combination with a series of parallel supports, of a wall facing comprising blocks arranged in two opposed series between each pair of adjacent supports, the blocks in each series being positioned end to end and being interlocked with said supports, said blocks having rectangular face portions protecting the supports atthe fire side of the wall and body portions projecting between said supports, each of said blocks having two oppositely inclined surfaces located, respectively, at the upper and lower ends thereof and positioned between adjacent supports, and devices engaging said inclined faces of the opposed bricks to crowd them laterally against their respective supports.

6. A block for furnace walls of the type in which tubes or other supports are included in the wall structure for supporting the wall facing, said block comprising a rectangular face portion of substantial thickness for exposure at the fire face of the wall and a body portion grooved along one side to fit against one of said supports, the opposite side of said body portion having oppositely inclined faces, said inclined faces being offset with reference to the edges of said face portion of the block and being located behind said face portion.

7. A block for furnace walls of the type in which tubes or other supports are included in the wall structure for supporting the wall facing, said block comprising a rectangular front face portion of substantial thickness adapted to be exposed at the fire face of the wall having a body portion extending rearwardly from said face portion, one side of said body portion being grooved to fit against one of said supports and to cause the face portion to extend approximately half way around the front side of said support, and the opposite side of the body portion of said brick having two oppositely inclined faces, said inclined faces being ofiset with reference to the edges of said face portion of the block and being located behind said face portion.

8. A block for furnace walls of the type in which tubes or other supports are included in the wall structure for supporting the wall facing, said block comprising a rectangular front face portion of substantial thickness adapted to be exposed at the fire face of the wall having a body portion extending rearwardly from said face portion, one side of said body portion being grooved to fit against one of said supports and to cause the face portion to extend approximately half way around the front side of said support, and the opposite side of the body portion of said brick having two oppositely inclined faces, located, respectively, at points spaced apart by a substantial distance in a direction parallel to said groove, the upright edge of the face portion of the block at the side thereof adjacent to said inclined surfaces being offset laterally with reference to an adjacent upright side edge of said block.

9. A block for furnace walls of the type in which tubes or other supports are included in the wall structure for supporting the wall facing, said block comprising a rectangular front face portion of substantial thickness adapted to be exposed at the fire face of the wall having a body portion extending rearwardly from said face portion, one side of said body portion being grooved to fit against one of said' supports and the opposite side of said body portion having oppositely inclined faces at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, and both located behind said face portion.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

